Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 12:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 12:16 p.m.

OCALA - Lois Brown Miller made an entrance at her 100th birthday celebration Saturday like a movie star walking the red carpet on Oscar night.

“Hello everyone,” Miller said in a strong voice as she waved and blew kisses to the roughly 250 well-wishers gathered at the Saint Marks United Methodist Church annex.

Miller, born April 6, 1913, was celebrated as a person of faith, a historian and a civic leader by family members, community leaders and friends.

NAACP Marion branch president Loretta Jenkins, Rep. Dennis Baxley and Tye Chighizola with the city of Ocala planning and growth department, were on hand to congratulate Miller on her milestone and nine members of the Northwest Federated Women's Club, including past president Theodora Williams, came from Fort Lauderdale to honor their former member.

Miller made the rounds from table to table before she took the seat of honor at the front of the auditorium.

Baxley addressed Miller and delivered greetings from Tallahassee along with his own.

“I came to congratulate Lois Miller on her birthday on behalf of the Governor and the Florida Legislature and myself. She has walked through many challenges and with the goodness of God has turned bitter to better and never gave up,” Baxley said.

Chighizola said Miller is an active participant in community planning meetings.

“The community owes you a lot for your high spirited and loving contributions,” said Loretta Jenkins, who was joined at the podium by her husband Whitfield Jenkins.

Miller's documentation of the history of the Fessenden School and tireless efforts “with calloused and bleeding hands” to renew the historic Chestnut Cemetery in the black community were both praised.

“I've written two books, ‘A Walk Through the Pines,' the history of the Fessenden School, and an autobiography, ‘Down Memory Lane',” Miller said.

She said she has a son in New York, who could not attend the celebration because of ill health, and four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, and a lot of cousins, many of whom were at Saturday's get together.

She added that the Lois B. Miller Federated Women's Club will provide a scholarship to a 2013 high school graduate as a way to continue her legacy.

Rev. H. J. Boone Jr. of United Baptist Church in Reddick offered the invocation and Rev. Darrell Redding of Progressive Union Church, where Miller is “the oldest relative and member,” according to the event program, served as master of ceremonies.

Family members and friends added well wishes when the podium was opened for “reflections.”

Miller was referred to as a “beacon of light” and “a beautiful rose in the garden of life.”

One guest offered a reminiscence that Miller once provided a stage door meeting with actress Diahann Carroll after attending a Broadway show.

“Lois loves her family,” said her cousin, Janie Bellamy.

Third cousin Steven Brown said Miller is a very vibrant person, is active in her church and is a historian and has done a lot of research into their family's genealogy.

Karen Amore traveled from Lansdowne, Penn., to see Miller and make good on a promise of a bottle of wine that was put on “reserve” on Miller's 95th birthday.

“I told her I'd be back to pop the cork on her 100th, and it's in her refrigerator at home,”Amore said.

Joann McCants spearheaded arrangements for the event and Benjamin F. Brown served as escort for the honoree. Kayla McCants performed an interpretive praise dance.

In a light hearted reflection, Ernestine Porter recalled a time when Miller complained of having a “sore leg.”

“That leg has been around for 100 years it ought to be sore,” Porter said with a laugh.

<p>OCALA - Lois Brown Miller made an entrance at her 100th birthday celebration Saturday like a movie star walking the red carpet on Oscar night.</p><p>“Hello everyone,” Miller said in a strong voice as she waved and blew kisses to the roughly 250 well-wishers gathered at the Saint Marks United Methodist Church annex.</p><p>Miller, born April 6, 1913, was celebrated as a person of faith, a historian and a civic leader by family members, community leaders and friends.</p><p>NAACP Marion branch president Loretta Jenkins, Rep. Dennis Baxley and Tye Chighizola with the city of Ocala planning and growth department, were on hand to congratulate Miller on her milestone and nine members of the Northwest Federated Women's Club, including past president Theodora Williams, came from Fort Lauderdale to honor their former member.</p><p>Miller made the rounds from table to table before she took the seat of honor at the front of the auditorium.</p><p>Baxley addressed Miller and delivered greetings from Tallahassee along with his own.</p><p>“I came to congratulate Lois Miller on her birthday on behalf of the Governor and the Florida Legislature and myself. She has walked through many challenges and with the goodness of God has turned bitter to better and never gave up,” Baxley said. </p><p>Chighizola said Miller is an active participant in community planning meetings. </p><p>“The community owes you a lot for your high spirited and loving contributions,” said Loretta Jenkins, who was joined at the podium by her husband Whitfield Jenkins.</p><p>Miller's documentation of the history of the Fessenden School and tireless efforts “with calloused and bleeding hands” to renew the historic Chestnut Cemetery in the black community were both praised.</p><p>“I've written two books, 'A Walk Through the Pines,' the history of the Fessenden School, and an autobiography, 'Down Memory Lane',” Miller said.</p><p>She said she has a son in New York, who could not attend the celebration because of ill health, and four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, and a lot of cousins, many of whom were at Saturday's get together.</p><p>She added that the Lois B. Miller Federated Women's Club will provide a scholarship to a 2013 high school graduate as a way to continue her legacy.</p><p>Rev. H. J. Boone Jr. of United Baptist Church in Reddick offered the invocation and Rev. Darrell Redding of Progressive Union Church, where Miller is “the oldest relative and member,” according to the event program, served as master of ceremonies. </p><p>Family members and friends added well wishes when the podium was opened for “reflections.”</p><p>Miller was referred to as a “beacon of light” and “a beautiful rose in the garden of life.”</p><p>One guest offered a reminiscence that Miller once provided a stage door meeting with actress Diahann Carroll after attending a Broadway show.</p><p>“Lois loves her family,” said her cousin, Janie Bellamy.</p><p>Third cousin Steven Brown said Miller is a very vibrant person, is active in her church and is a historian and has done a lot of research into their family's genealogy.</p><p>Karen Amore traveled from Lansdowne, Penn., to see Miller and make good on a promise of a bottle of wine that was put on “reserve” on Miller's 95th birthday.</p><p>“I told her I'd be back to pop the cork on her 100th, and it's in her refrigerator at home,”Amore said.</p><p>Joann McCants spearheaded arrangements for the event and Benjamin F. Brown served as escort for the honoree. Kayla McCants performed an interpretive praise dance.</p><p>In a light hearted reflection, Ernestine Porter recalled a time when Miller complained of having a “sore leg.”</p><p>“That leg has been around for 100 years it ought to be sore,” Porter said with a laugh.</p>